A Cosmic Voyage with Astronomer Sandra Faber

aVeteran astronomer and cosmologist Sandra Faber has just been awarded the Gruber Prize for Cosmology, honoring more than forty years of pioneering work. She talks with Mat Kaplan on this week’s show. Planetary Society CEO Bill Nye tells us about his contribution to a conversation about protecting other worlds from aggressive life here on Earth. Bruce Betts takes us to the broiling highlands of Venus and the frigid plains of Mars for the space trivia contest.

Related Links:

• The Gruber Foundation 2017 Cosmology Prize
• Sandra Faber’s UC Santa Cruz page
• The Faber-Jackson Relation
• NASA Office of Planetary Protection
• Planetary Defense & Random Space Fact NEO Videos

This week's prizes are the brand new Chop Shop-designed Planetary Radio t-shirt and a 200-point iTelescope.net astronomy account.

This week's question:

Who submitted the name “Sojourner Truth” for the Mars Pathfinder rover, named in a Planetary Society-led contest?

To submit your answer:

Complete the contest entry form at http://planetary.org/radiocontest or write to us at [email protected] no later than Wednesday, July 12th at 8am Pacific Time. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Last week's question:

In what year was the supernova observed that formed the Crab Nebula?

Answer:

The answer will be revealed next week.

Question from the week before:

What are the names of the two large Venusian highlands?

Answer:

The two major Venusian (or Venereal!) highlands are Ishtar Terra and Aphrodite Terra.